US Foreign Minister Antony Blinken warned on Sunday that the United States would oppose the establishment of new settlements by the next Israeli government in the occupied West Bank.
With our correspondent in Washington, Guillaume Naudin
Invited to speak at a conference of the J Street group, which defines itself as progressive and pro-Israeli, the head of American diplomacy reiterated Washington’s support for Israel. He began his speech by congratulating Binyamin Netanyahu for his return to power, whose relations with the United States have sometimes been stormy. ” We will judge the (Israeli) government by its policies, not its individual personalities. “, however, noted the Secretary of State.
But he also stressed the American commitment to a two-state peace solution. ” Anything that takes us away from the two states is detrimental to Israel’s long-term security and identity. “, did he declare.
Antony Blinken thus evoked the question of colonization. Knowing that Binyamin Netanyahu returned to power with a far-right coalition very favorable to the continuation of construction. ” We will also continue to unequivocally oppose any action that endangers the two-state solution, including the expansion of settlements, moves towards annexation of the West Bank, disruption of the historic status quo saints, demolitions and evictions, and incitement to violence “, he said.
More than 475,000 Israelis currently live in settlements in the West Bank, illegal under international law. This is about four times more than when the Oslo agreements were signed in the 1990s, which did not lead to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Finally, Antony Blinken insisted on respect for the rights and freedoms of all, especially the LGBT+ community. The latter addressed strong criticism to Binyamin Netanyahu for his alliance with the far right known for its homophobic positions.